E-DRUG: Lifesaving Drugs for Killer Prices
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Press Release Health Action International (HAI)
Seattle, December 1, 1999, 6:00pm
Lifesaving Drugs for Killer Prices
WHO and US government recommend the use of trade measures for access
to medicines
At a joint WHO/WTO information session on trade and health held in
Seattle today, Michael Scholtz, Executive Director of WHO's Drugs and
Health Technologies Division, supported the use of measures such as
compulsory licensing to make essential medicines available to the
world's poor.
In a luncheon speech to WTO delegates, President Clinton promised US
government support for similar measures: "Intellectual property
protections are very important to a modern economy, but when HIV and
AIDS epidemics are involved, and like serious health care crises, the
United States will henceforward implement its health care and trade
policies in a manner that ensures that people in the poorest countries
won't have to go without medicine they so desperately need. I hope
that this will help South Africa and many other countries that we are
committed to support in this regard."
"These statements are a real, much needed step forward. However, they
need to be followed with actions. WHO needs to actively support
countries' efforts to introduce a public health orientation in
TRIPS," said Zafar Mirza, coordinator of Health Action International
(HAI)'s team at the WTO meeting in Seattle.
More than 50% of people in developing countries do not have access to
essential drugs. Most people with AIDS in sub-Saharan African, Asia
and Latin America cannot afford lifesaving drugs - antiviral drugs
that prolong life, and drugs to fight AIDS related infections.
"In many countries, one year of HIV treatment - if it were purchased -
would consume the equivalent of 30 years' income," stated Gro Harlem
Brundtland, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) in
a speech last year.
Companies are able to charge exorbitant prices for their products
because they have monopoly rights as long as the drug is under patent.
All countries that implement the TRIPS agreement (Trade-Related
Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) are obliged to guarantee
patents on new medicines.
HAI recommends that WTO:
- Set up a Standing Working Group on Access to Medicines, to help
countries make essential drugs, including AIDS drugs, available to the
poor;
- Develop mechanisms to prevent strong-arming of countries who
use provisions within the TRIPS agreement to make needed medicines
available;
- Encourage research and development for the treatment of
tropical and neglected diseases.
For more information, contact:
Dr Zafar Mirza, Health Action International; Seattle, Dec 1-4, Tel:
( 917) 940-0840 Dr Christiane Fischer, Health Action International,